Little Rock, AR – The Arkansas State Teachers Association (ASTA) and Lewis Automotive Group are proud to announce a new partnership to support Northwest Arkansas’s talented educators. ASTA, the state’s premier professional association for educators, currently spearheads a state-wide Teacher Scholarship and Classroom Grant Program designed to provide worthy teachers with $500 awards to advance their professionalism. This new partnership with Lewis Automotive Group will invest an additional $5,500 into the program for educators in Benton, Madison, and Washington counties.

In response to the Little Rock School District’s proposed union contract, The Arkansas State Teachers Association (ASTA), the state’s largest non-union professional educators’ association issued the following statement:

Unlike ASTA, the Arkansas Education Association/National Education Association dictates that teachers may only resign membership during a small, unadvertised window in the fall. If a teacher misses this deadline, s/he is forced to pay membership dues for the entire school year.

We are honored to serve thousands of Arkansas educators with valuable benefits and services at a reasonable price. With mounting costs associated with protecting our members from legal claims and providing assistance with their due process rights, in addition to offering new and improved member benefits, ASTA and the Association of American Educators Board of Directors have decided to increase professional membership dues by $1.50 a month. This increase has not been decided upon lightly. We pride ourselves on operating within a lean budget that is laser-focused on members' needs.
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At the end of this month, the grassroots movement known as National School Choice Week will once again take shape in schools, districts, and cities across the country. From January 26th to February 1st, 2014, school choice advocates across the nation will gather to demonstrate their belief that parents should be empowered to choose the best educational environments for their children. ASTA is proud to be a partner in this unprecedented opportunity to shine a positive spotlight on the need for effective education options for all students and teachers.
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The Rogers Arkansas State Teachers Association (RASTA) met this week at the Rogers Public Library to discuss expansion in the district. Educators Chris Daniels of Heritage High School, Shawnee Brown of Oakdale Middle Schools, and Rebecca Booth of Oakdale Middle School will serve as local officers and spread the word about the non-union option in Rogers.
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Little Rock, Arkansas- The Arkansas State Teachers Association (ASTA), the state's fastest growing non-union educator organization, is honored to be part of the coalition that was successful in reducing health care premiums for education employees. After a 33-hour special session and a package of bills approved, the state will use surplus money this year and redirect state funds in future years to lower teachers' insurance premiums. Governor Beebe signed the bills into law just moments ago.
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Little Rock, AR – The Arkansas State Teachers Association (ASTA), the state's premier non-union, professional educator association, is pleased to welcome Mr. Ronnie Flowers as its new regional director serving the northwest region of the state. Mr. Flowers brings a wealth of experience as a veteran teacher and leader in the Bentonville area. In his new role, Mr. Flowers will focus on promoting the non-union option in Arkansas by spearheading recruitment efforts in his region, overseeing programs, and serving individual members.
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Today the 2011 annual membership survey was released by ASTA's national partner, the Association of American Educators. The survey was conducted this summer, polling AAE members from all 50 states on issues relating to education and labor reform. Survey results showed shifting attitudes toward policies including school choice, technology, attracting new teachers to the workforce, and collective bargaining.
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This week, ASTA's national affiliate, the Assoication of American Educators released the 2010 AAE Member Survey: Teachers Support Reform Efforts When Reform Efforts are Fair . The survey was conducted this summer, polling AAE members from all fifty states on issues relating to education and education reform.

Bad news this morning regarding teacher pensions, so I hope you've had your coffee.
A recent study by the Manhattan Institute for Policy Research states that teacher pensions nationwide are underfunded by nearly $1 trillion—three times the estimate of government officials. The difference in estimates is because teacher pensions, unlike their private counterparts, assume a much higher—if unrealistic—return on investment and enjoy more freedom than private pension funds. Continue Reading...